BRITAIN'S curry house bosses say they have been betrayed by Brexit campaigners who promised them a points-based immigration system.

Just days before Theresa May visits India on her first major trade mission, the £4bn a year Brexit-supporting British curry industry says it feels let down after it was told control over European immigration which would make room for more visas for south Asians.

Businesses serving up the nation's favourite dish - tikka masala - say they are facing mass closures due to a lack of chefs.

Currently, bosses have to pay at least £29,579 a year for a visa for a kitchen expert from the subcontinent.

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My organisation supported Brexit for several reasons but the main reason was to bring people from abroad to help our industry to survive

Pasha Khandaker, Bangladesh Caterers Association

Out campaigner and president of the Bangladesh Caterers Association, Pasha Khandaker, said he was "very disappointed" by the Government saying it wants to cut immigration but is refusing to consider an Australian-style points-based system as promised by Vote Leave during the referendum campaign.

He told the Financial Times: "I am very disappointed, when Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, Priti Patel, prominent figures from the governing party, they were clearly saying that they would introduce a points-based system of immigration, Australia style.

"My organisation supported Brexit for several reasons but the main reason was to bring people from abroad to help our industry to survive."

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Curry houses were hoping less EU migration would mean more Indian chefs could come over

He said those born in Britain are reluctant to work late, as most curry houses require.

Muslim communities were sent leaflets by the Out campaign saying voting for Brexit would allow more immigrants from Commonwealth countries as the number of eastern Europeans would reduce.

Current international development secretary Ms Patel, said it was "manifestly unfair and unjust" curry houses had to deal with a "second-class immigration system" compared to those coming from the European Union (EU).

Vote Leave campaigners also called on Commonwealth country business leaders to write to then Prime Minister David Cameron to urge Britain to take back "autonomy in the field of migration".

Those who voted for Brexit were immediately let down after the result when Mrs May ruled out an Australian-style points system for migrants.

The PM says she is still dedicated to getting net migration below 100,000 a year, which would mean a significant decrease in numbers from both inside and outside the EU.

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Curry house bosses say those born in Britain will not work the long hours required

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Theresa May is due to go to India on November 6 for her first big trade mission

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He added: "Politically it is rather difficult for Theresa May and the rest of the Government to say 'we're closing European immigration down but we want to encourage lots of Chinese and Indians to come in'."

Shubhada Rao, chief economist at Yes Bank in Mumbai, said in India there was an expectation Indian immigration to the UK would rise post-Brexit.